Devolution deal could be announced by Lancashire Day - minister

A devolution deal for Lancashire could be on the table within weeks, the Levelling Up minister has said.

Leaders of Lancashire's three main councils want powers and funding for areas such as skills, housing and transport to come under local control.

The announcement came after Jacob Young was asked about the county's devolution pitch in the House of Commons.

He said he hoped to announce details "in advance of Lancashire Day", which takes place on 27 November.

Speaking on behalf of all three top-tier authorities, Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Phil Riley said he was "delighted" by Mr Young's comments and the authorities had had a "very positive meeting with the minister".

"We absolutely now look forward to working with him and his officials to get to a celebration [of devolution] on Lancashire Day," he said.

A devolution deal for Lancashire would see the formation of a new combined county authority (CCA) on which the county council and Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen authorities would sit as voting members.

Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson has said a deal would mean "more decisions about key issues affecting our communities can be made here in Lancashire rather than at Westminster".

She said the county would be "better placed to tackle key local properties, improve employment and skills and boost economic prosperity" and it would put the region "on a level playing field" with Manchester and Liverpool and give the county "a stronger voice right across the North West and beyond".

The government previously said only the three "top-tier" authorities could belong to a CCA, leading Ms Williamson to reassure district councils that they would still have "a voice" in the new set-up.

Their involvement may be secured through associate membership for two district leaders who would represent the wider group of second-tier councils Preston and Pendle, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Any devolution proposal would be subject to a public consultation and would also need to be approved by the three councils involved in creating the new structure.

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